Worst job to have in a snowstorm

The topic has come up during heat waves. What's the worst job to have? But what about during a snowstorm? A listener actually suggested this topic, and we're happy to oblige. While many are off today, there are those 'essential' jobs that are always expected to come in no matter what. Police officers. Firefighters. Hospital staff. Many others.

So who has it worst? Is it the folks plowing the roads and trying to return our lives to normal? These people are heroes to me. Think about it. They have to sit in their vehicles in the dead of night waiting for the storm to start. Then they often work ridiculously long hours until the job is done. It's not unusual to hear of someone pushing themselves 18 straight hours plowing.

Then there's mailmen. It seems it takes an act of God for mail delivery to be called off. Carriers are sent out in the worst conditions. I know firsthand (well okay secondhand) because my dad was a letter carrier. While many routes today are driving routes with mailboxes at the street, many others are not. He had to walk over six miles in blinding snowstorms and deal with icy steps all day long.

What about linemen? Power is bound to go out when there's heavy snow buildup, and those lines have to be repaired. Unless the winds are too dangerously high, these guys save the day with every bad storm working in the most miserable conditions.

I'm leaving so many out. But the point is, please know we appreciate what you do. You may not hear it often enough, but to those essential in a snowstorm you have our eternal gratitude.

More from New Jersey 101.5: